WHEELING  S  STORY 


Told  in  Eloquent  Facts  and 
Convincing  Figures 


Printed  for  tfie  Public  by 


WHEELING  BOARD  of  TRADE 


The  Cities 

The  Cities  are  full  of  pride, 

Challenging  each  to  each — 

This  from  her  mountain  side, 

That  from  her  burthened  beach. 

They  count  their  ships  full  tale — 

Their  corn  and  oil  and  wine, 

Derrick  and  loom  and  bale, 

And  rampart’s  gunflecked  line; 

City  by  city  they  hail : 

“Hast  aught  to  match  with  mine?” 

And  the  men  that  breed  from  them 
They  traffic  up  and  down, 

But  cling  to  their  cities’  hem 

As  a  child  to  the  mother’s  gown. 

When  they  talk  with  the  stranger  bands, 
Dazed  and  newly  alone; 

When  they  walk  in  stranger  lands, 

By  roaring  streets  unknown; 

Blessing  her  where  she  stands 
For  strength  above  their  own. 

On  high  to  hold  her  fame. 

That  stands  all  fame  beyond, 

By  oath  to  back  the  same, 

Most  faithful — foolish — fond ; 

Making  her  mere-breathed  name 
Their  bond  upon  their  bond. 

— Rudyard  Kipling. 


^1:5415 


Foreword 


The  Board  of  Trade  presents  this  booklet  of 
facts  and  figures  about  Wheeling  so  that  its 
true  size,  its  substantial  advantages  and  solid 
achievements  may  be  known  by  all  who  wish  to 
know. 

Though  the  United  States  census  in  1910  gave 
us  a  population  of  41,641,  Wheeling  is  in  reality 
a  community  about  four  times  that  size,  and 
stretches  north,  south,  east  and  west  over  the 
Ohio  river  and  state  lines.  The  census  cannot 
go  beyond  legal  boundaries,  and  so  Wheeling 
does  not  get  credit  for  her  real  extent  and  true 
proportions,  even  though  some  of  its  suburbs 
are  as  much  a  part  of  the  city  as  some  of  its 
wards. 

Wheeling’s  area  is  small, — a  little  over  three 
square  miles, — and  annexation  plans  have  not 
yet  been  realized,  but  though  a  greater  city 
would  help  the  situation  in  uniting  West  Vir¬ 
ginia  suburbs  under  our  name  and  government, 
our  strong  and  aggressive  neighbors  in  Ohio 
r*  can  never  be  made  legally  one  with  Wheeling. 
£  Our  suburbs  within  the  five-cent  fare  limit 
**  of  a  splendid  trolley  system  include  West  Vir¬ 
ginia  towns  such  as  Warwood,  with  several 
plants  of  national  reputation ;  Fulton,  with  the 
largest  packing  house  east  of  Chicago ;  Ben- 
wood,  with  Steel  corporation  and  independent 
mills  employing  nearly  six  thousand  men;  and 
in  Ohio  cities  like  Martins  Ferry,  Bridgeport 
and  Bellaire  with  a  combined  population  of 
over  30,000  and  big  industries  of  the  Steel  cor- 


3 


poration,  large  glass  factories,  .enameled  ware 
plants,  bridge  works  and  other  industries  em¬ 
ploying  thousands  of  work  people. 

These  are  only  a  few  of  many  and  are  men¬ 
tioned  because  they  are  typical  of  Wheeling’s 
suburban  situation  which  makes  the  city  so 
strong  financially,  industrially  and  commer¬ 
cially. 

Aside  from  this,  Wheeling  is  in  the  midst  of 
an  excellent  farming  district  and  within  a  short 
distance  of  the  real  country  with  green  fields 
and  running  brooks,  lovely  valleys  and  hills, 
which  present  a  landscape  that  cannot  be  sur¬ 
passed  anywhere  and  which  invite  one  into 
God’s  out-of-doors,  all  the  year  round. 

We  of  Wheeling  believe  we  have  a  goodly  city 
which  has  much  to  offer  the  manufacturer  and 
the  merchant,  the  home-seekei  and  the  investor. 

It  has  great  resources  and  splendid  advan¬ 
tages  in  everything  that  goes  to  make  a  city 
great  and  a  people  happy,  and  its  latchstring 
is  out  to  men  who  want  opportunity  and  to 
money  which  is  seeking  safe  investment. 


A  BIT  OF  SCENERY  NEAR  WHEELING 


4 


WHEELING  BOARD  OF  TRADE 

ORGANIZED  1900 

Assembly  Room  and  Offices,  South  End  Market  Auditorium 

President 

W.  B.  IRVINE 

Vice-President  National  Bank  of  West  Virginia 

First  Vice-President 

C.  H.  DOWLER 

Dowler  &  Dowler,  Bonds  and  Real  Estate. 

Second  Vice-President 
FRED  J.  FOX 
Cashier,  Security  Trust  Co. 

Secretary-T  reasurer 
R.  B.  NAYLOR 

Assistant  Secretary 

R.  E.  BYRUM 

DIRECTORS 

SEATON  ALEXANDER 
Alexander  &  Co.,  Shoes 

CHAS.  A.  BOWERS 
Cashier,  South  Side  Bank 

J.  HAROLD  BRENNAN 
Attorney-at-Law  and  City  Solicitor 

ROBERT  M.  BROWNE 
Member  Browne  Bros.,  Tailors 

E.  B.  CARNEY 
President  Windsor  Hotel  Co. 

ANDREW  S.  HARE 

Cashier  and  Director,  Natural  Gas  Co.  of  West  Va. 

ROBERT  HAZLETT 
Postmaster 

GEORGE  HOOK 

President  Germania  Half-Dollar  Savings  Bank 
A.  T.  HUPP 

Vice-President  Speidel  Grocery  Co. 

GEORGE  O.  NAGLE 
Vice-President  Wheeling  Traction  Co. 

JOSEPH  R.  NAYLOR 

Secretary  John  S.  Naylor  Dry  Goods  Company 
JOHN  H.  RENNARD 

President,  John  H.  Rennard  Advertising  Co. 

FRANK  W.  NESBITT 
Lawyer  and  Former  Judge  of  Circuit  Court 

OTTO  SCHENK 

Vice-President  and  Manager,  F.  Schenk  &  Sons 
Packing  Co. 

CHAS.  H.  WATKINS,  Jr. 

President  Palace  Furniture  Co. 


ONE  OF  WHEELING' S  BIG  BANKS 


6 


The  Real  W^heelmg 


Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  located  in  the 
beantifnl  Ohio  Valley,  is  one  of  the  solid  and 
substantial  cities  of  the  country  and  has  long 
enjoyed  a  high  reputation  for  the  extent  and 
variety  of  its  commerce  and  industry.  The 
city  has  43,000  population  with  100,000  in  the 
immediately  suburbs  in  West  Virginia,  Ohio  and 
Pennsylvania.  It  is  the  chief  city  and  commer¬ 
cial  and  industrial  center  of  a  State  of  great 
resources,  noted  for  the  production  of  coal,  oil, 
gas  and  lumber  and  rapidly  taking  high  rank 
for  industrial  development  and  horticultural 
progress. 

Wheeling  was  settled  about  1769  by  Col. 
Ebenezer  Zane  and  two  brothers,  and  the  town 
grew  up  about  Fort  Henry,  established  by  them 
at  the  top  of  what  is  now  Main  street  hill,  the 
site  having  been  appropriately  marked  with  a 
tablet  by  the  State.  The  fort  was  the  scene  of 
the  last  battle  of  the  Revolution  when  it  was  un¬ 
successfully  attacked  by  a  force  of  British  and 
Indians. 

The  city  had  its  first  impetus  because  it  was 
located  at  the  head  of  navigation  on  the  Ohio 
river,  and  was  for  a  long  time  the  western 
terminus  of  the  Old  National  Road,  Baltimore 
being  on  the  eastern  end.  The  National  Road 
was  the  most  important  avenue  of  commerce 
over  the  mountains,  prior  to  the  railroads,  and 
after  its  extension  to  Columbus,  Indianapolis 
and  St.  Louis,  a  constant  stream  of  commerce 
flowed  over  the  highway.  Wheeling  was  the 


7 


first  point  reached  by  the  railroads  on  the  Ohio 
river,  and  was  for  some  years  the  western 
terminal  of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio,  the  first  road 
to  cross  the  Alleghany  mountains. 

The  city  was  established  as  a  town  in  1795  and 
incorporated  in  1806.  A  charter  was  granted 
in  1836.  It  is  the  county  seat  of  Ohio  county. 

The  city  was  loyal  to  the  National  Govern¬ 
ment  during  the  Civil  War,  and  the  new  State 
was  born  here.  The  first  convention  of  dele¬ 
gates  from  the  loyal  counties  of  Western  Vir¬ 
ginia  met  in  Wheeling  May  13th,  1861,  and 
inaugurated  the  movement  which  finally  re¬ 
sulted  in  the  admission  of  West  Virginia  as  a 
State  June  20th,  1863. 

Wheeling  was  the  capital  of  the  new  State, 
having  occupied  that  position  from  1863  until 
1870,  when  Charleston  was  selected  as  a  more 
central  point.  However,  in  1875  it  was  again 
the  seat  of  government,  but  in  1885  removal 
again  took  place  to  Charleston,  and  there  it  has 
since  remained. 

Industrial  and  Commercial  Facts 

The  principal  industries  of  Wheeling  are  the 
manufacture  of  iron,  steel,  tinplate,  nails,  glass, 
enameled  ware,  pottery  and  tobacco  products, 
while  there  are  many  others  of  importance, 
among  them  the  largest  proprietary  medicine 
concern  in  the  world.  Steel  and  iron  manu¬ 
facture  began  here  in  1825  on  a  small  scale,  in¬ 
fluenced  by  cheap  fuel  and  excellent  transporta¬ 
tion  facilities,  and  has  grown  steadily  and  sub¬ 
stantially,  until  today  the  United  States  Steel 
Corporation  with  five  large  plants  and  several 
independent  concerns,  such  as  the  Wheeling 
Steel  &  Iron  Company,  the  Whitaker-Glessner 
Company  and  the  LaBelle  Iron  Works,  turn  out 
enormous  tonnage  which  has  an  ever  widening 


8 


market.  A  new  $1,000,000  sheet  and  tinplate 
plant  is  in  course  of  construction,  with  local 
capital  behind  it.  The  first  glass  was  made 
here  in  1821,  and  the  city  is  now  the  center  of 
a  great  glass  industry,  employing  about  6,000 
people  and  turning  out  wares  annually  valued 
at  $8,000,000.  The  Wheeling  stogie  originated 
here  about  60  years  ago,  and  the  business  has 
grown  to  great  proportions,  140,000,000  being 
made  annually.  In  the  smoking  and  chewing 
tobacco  line,  Wheeling  has  one  of  the  largest 
plants  in  the  world,  turning  out  a  single  brand. 
Among  other  industries  may  be  mentioned  large 
foundries  and  machine  shops,  tin  can  factories, 
stamping  works,  meat  packing  plants,  modern 
breweries,  a  calico  printing  works,  tool  works 
which  sell  their  wares  as  far  apart  as  Norway 
and  Argentine,  enameled  ware  plants  of  grow¬ 
ing  importance  and  ketchup  and  preserve  fac¬ 
tories  which  have  made  Wheeling  famous. 
Auto  truck  and  engine  factories  are  recent 
acquisitions  to  our  industries.  The  city  pos¬ 
sesses  advantages  and  facilities  which  have  built 
up  many  large  and  substantial  industries  and 
which  invite  both  capital  and  labor  to  a  promis¬ 
ing  field. 

The  jobbing  and  retail  trade  of  the  city  is 
large  and  constantly  expanding  and  reaches 
probably  $20,000,000  annually  according  to  con¬ 
servative  estimates.  The  territory  served  em¬ 
braces  three  States,  and  the  houses  in  all  lines 
of  business  are  modern  and  up-to-date  in  every 
respect.  Many  retail  stores  are  models  in  con¬ 
struction  and  management,  and  would  do  credit 
to  the  largest  cities  of  the  country.  The  bank¬ 
ing  facilties  are  large  and  ample,  and  complete 
figures  regarding  them  will  be  found  on  an¬ 
other  page. 


9 


Railroad  Facilities 


The  district  is  served  by  three  of  the  most 
prominent  and  aggressive  trunk  lines  in  the 
country,  viz : 

The  Baltimore  &  Ohio  system,  with  its  main 
lines  and  its  Cleveland,  Lorain  &  Wheeling, 
Ohio  River  and  Wheeling  &  Pittsburg  di¬ 
visions.  The  Pennsylvania  system,  P.,  C.,  C.  & 
St.  Louis  and  Pennsylvania  connections ;  Cleve¬ 
land  &  Pittsburg,  and  Pittsburg,  Fort  Wayne 
&  Chicago  connections,  also  its  Ohio  Valley 
branch.  The  Wabash  interests,  through  the 
Wheeling  &  Lake  Erie  railway. 

In  addition  to  these,  we  have  the  Ohio  River 
&  Western  railway,  and  the  Wheeling  Terminal 
railway,  the  latter  a  belt  line  connecting  with 
all  lines  and  principal  industries  in  the  district. 
The  Lake  Erie,  Alliance  &  Wheeling  has  been 
built  to  Dillonvale,  18  miles  northwest  of 
Wheeling,  and  rights-of-way  have  been  secured 
to  bring  the  road  practically  into  Wheeling. 

Wheeling  has  Pittsburg  freight  rates  on  hauls 
100  miles  or  more  distant,  and  local  rates  within 
the  100-mile  radius  are,  generally  speaking,  the 
same  as  those  to  and  from  Pittsburg  for  similar 
distances. 

Through  its  excellent  transportation  facili¬ 
ties,  Wheeling  is  near  the  great  markets  of  the 
country  and  by  superior  passenger  service,  the 
city  is  two  hours  from  Pittsburg,  five  from 
Cleveland  and  Columbus,  eight  and  one-half 
Aom  Cincinnati,  ten  and  one-half  from  Balti¬ 
more,  twelve  from  New  York  and  Philadelphia, 
and  fourteen  and  one-half  from  Chicago.  A 
quick  local  freight  service  is  provided,  all  lines 
loading  daily,  way  cars  which  make  next  day 
deliveries  at  points  on  their  lines  within  100 
miles.  The  through  fast  freight  merchandise 
service  to  and  from  large  commercial  centers  is 


10 


excellent,  as  the  following  approximate  freight 
deliveries  prove :  Pittsburg,  Cleveland  and 
Toledo,  next  day;  New  York,  Philadelphia, 
Baltimore,  Washington,  Cincinnati,  Columbus 
and  Chicago,  second  day;  St.  Louis  and  Louis¬ 
ville,  third  day ;  Boston,  fifth  day.  For  the  de¬ 
livery,  as  well  as  forwarding  of  miscellaneous 
merchandise  in  car  lots,  large  well-equipped 
public  team  truck  yards  are  maintained  by  all 
lines,  conveniently  located  and  reached  by 
paved  streets,  and  the  suburbs  are  also  well 
provided  for  in  that  respect. 

Great  improvements  have  been  made  by  all 
lines  within  the  last  few  years  to  enable  them 
to  keep  pace  with  the  constantly  growing  ton¬ 
nage  and  travel,  the  B.  &  0.  alone  spending  be¬ 
tween  $2,000,000  and  $3,000,000,  and  many  more 
are  contemplated  for  the  near  future. 

The  street  railway  system  of  the  two  com¬ 
panies,  the  Wheeling  Traction  and  the  West 
Virginia  Traction  &  Electric  Company,  em¬ 
braces  125  miles,  running  east  and  west  25 
miles  and  north  to  south  28  miles,  and  bringing 
the  whole  tri-state  district  in  touch  with  Wheel¬ 
ing.  The  service  has  done  much  for  the  up¬ 
building  of  Wheeling  and  the  promotion  of 
trade,  and  will  continue  to  make  Wheeling  big¬ 
ger  and  better.  , 

The  Ohio  river  is  navigable  most  of  the  year, 
and  recent  improvements  by  the  completion 
of  two  government  dams  north  and  south  of 
the  city  will  increase  its  usefulness.  A  third 
dam  is  now  being  built  just  above  the  town. 

Coal,  Gas  and  Electric  Power 

Wheeling  has  an  abundance  of  cheap  fuel, 
both  coal  and  natural  gas.  The  former  has 
been  mined  for  many  years  and  was  the  basis 
of  our  first  industrial  success.  The  city  is  in 


11 


the  heart  of  a  great  coal  field  which  contains 
the  richest  steam  coal  to  be  found  anywhere, 
and  15,000  men  are  employed  in  the  mining  in¬ 
dustry  within  a  radius  of  20  miles.  The  pay 
rolls  run  $1,500,000  a  month.  As  within  the 
radius  indicated,  it  is  estimated  there  are  4,000,- 
000,000  tons  unmined,  the  supply  is  practically 
inexhaustible.  Wheeling  offers  an  advantage 
here  that  cannot  be  surpassed  and  $1.00  coal  is 
the  rule.  Many  plants  hav.e  mines  at  the  fur¬ 
nace  door. 

Natural  gas  introduced  here  in  1886  comes 
from  West  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  and  is 
sold  at  reasonable  rates.  The  consumption  for 
domestic  and  industrial  use  is  very  large,  and  it 
is  the  fuel  par  excellence. 

In  addition,  cheap  electric  power  and  light 
are  available  and  a  big  company  has  recently 
completed  one  of  the  largest  and  best  equipped 
plants  in  the  country  for  furnishing  this 
modern  industrial  necessity. 

Government  and  Taxation 

Wheeling’s  government  is  based  on  a  charter 
passed  in  1907,  and  drawn  on  modern  lines. 
Considerable  powers  are  vested  in  a  Board  of 
Control,  consisting  of  Mayor  and  two  others, 
elected  by  the  people,  with  a  City  Council  made 
up  of  ward  representatives.  The  board  system 
has  been  entirely  done  away  with,  and  prac¬ 
tically  all  city  business  is  done  under  the  direc¬ 
tion  of  the  Board  of  Control.  The  city  owns 
public  utilities  in  the  way  of  water  works,  gas 
plant,  electric  light  works  and  city  crematory. 
There  are  47  miles  of  streets  with  30  p'aved  with 
brick  and  asphalt  and  the  rest  with  cobble, 
gravel  or  macadam.  The  city  government  is 
located  in  the  former  State  capitol,  a  fine  build¬ 
ing  >at  the  corner  of  Sixteenth  and  Chapline 


12 


streets,  which  is  also  used  as  a  county  court 
house.  The  total  valuation  of  property  in 
Wheeling  on  a  true  and  actual  basis  is  over 
$65,000,000,  the  valuation  of  real  property  in¬ 
creasing  $6,000,000  the  past  five  years. 

Wheeling  has  a  low  tax  rate,  the  total  levies 
amounting  to  96%  cents  per  $100,  a  low  city 
debt  and  much  valuable  city  property.  The 
city  debt  amounts  to  a  little  over  $1,000,000 
and  the  valuation  of  municipal  property  unen¬ 
cumbered  $2,191,000. 

The  City’s  Health 

Wheeling  is  in  the  same  latitude  as  Philadel¬ 
phia  and  enjoys  a  healthful  and  temperate  cli¬ 
mate  with  few  extremes  of  heat  and  cold.  The 
city,  lying  at  the  foothills,  is  well  drained  and 
the  public  health,  guarded  by  a  fearless  and 
energetic  Health  Department,  is  excellent.  The 
actual  resident  death  rate  in  1912  was  13.7  per 
thousand,  which  is  among  the  lowest  in  the 
country.  The  milk  supply  is  regulated  by  ordi¬ 
nance,  which  is  so  rigidly  enforced  that  no  city 
gets  better  milk,  and  the  effect  has  been  most 
beneficial,  especially  in  reducing  infant  mortal¬ 
ity.  Certified  milk  is  also  furnished  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Certified  Milk  Commission.  The 
health  department  provides  for  garbage  col¬ 
lection,  for  fumigation  in  contagious  dis¬ 
ease,  distributes  antitoxine  free  to  physicians 
for  use  in  families  unable  to  purchase  it,  and  in 
many  other  ways  safeguards  the  health  of  the 
community. 


Schools  and  Churches 

Sixty  years  ago  Wheeling  was  one  of  the 
first  southern  cities  to  establish  free  schools, 
and  has  developed  an  admirable  system  of  pub¬ 
lic  education  with  night  schools,  domestic 


13 


science  and  manual  training.  There  are  seven 
grammar  schools,  which  prepare  for  High 
School  work,  a  High  School  and  a  separate 
grade  school  and  High  School  for  colored  child¬ 
ren,  all  occupying  twelve  buildings.  The  new 
High  School  building,  erected  at  a  cost  of  $125,- 
000,  is  a  model  in  construction  and  arrange¬ 
ment  There  are  5,682  children  in  the  public 
schools,  including  444  in  the  High  School 
There  are  besides  these,  12  Catholic  educational 
institutions  in  the  city  and  eastern  suburbs, 
and  the  Linsly  Institute,  a  collegiate  prepara¬ 
tory  school  for  boys,  and  Mt.  de  Chantal  Acad¬ 
emy  for  girls,  an  excellent  institution  a  few 
miles  east  of  the  city,  in  charge  of  the  Sisters 
of  the  Visitation.  A  State  Normal  School  is  at 
West  Liberty,  10  miles  from  Wheeling,  and 
Bethany  College,  with  a  splendid  agricultural 
school  is  located  at  Bethany,  16  miles  from  the 
city. 

There  are  51  churches,  representing  many 
different  denominations,  the  Roman  Catholic 
ranking  first,  with  Methodists,  Lutherans  and 
Presbyterians  next  in  the  order  named.  There 
are  two  public  hospitals  and  several  private 
ones ;  several  orphanages  and  many  other  char¬ 
itable  institutions  which  are  doing  great  work. 
A  new  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building,  costing  $175,000. 
has  recently  been  opened  and  the  Y.  W.  C.  A. 
has  acquired  property  on  which  a  modern  build¬ 
ing  is  being  erected.  A  new  and  modern  City 
Hospital,  costing  $260,000,  will  soon  be  com¬ 
pleted.  The  money  for  this  worthy  project  was 
raised  in  an  eleven-day  campaign  and  reflects 
the  energy,  civic  pride  and  charitable  impulses 
of  our  people. 

In  the  line  of  civic  activities,  the  Wheeling 
Playground  Association  operates  four  modern 
and  well  equipped  playgrounds,  and  a  move¬ 
ment  is  on  foot  for  the  city  to  undertake  an 

14 


extension  of  the  system  through  its  excellent 
Park  and  Playground  Commission.  The  Asso¬ 
ciated  Charities,  well  supported  by  the  people, 
conducts  relief  work  on  systematic  business 
principles,  with  trained  officers  in  charge.  A 
well  organized  Woman’s  Department  Club  is 
active  in  many  lines.  The  Ohio  County  Anti- 
Tuberculosis  League  owns  a  hill  top  east  of 
the  city  on  which  a  well  equipped  sanitarium 
is  operated. 

Halls,  Theatres  and  Hotels 

The  Market-Auditorium,  between  Tenth  and 
Eleventh  streets,  in  the  heart  of  the  city,  is  the 
latest  addition  to  Wheeling’s  fine  public  build¬ 
ings,  and  was  erected  through  the  efforts  of  the 
Board  of  Trade.  It  is  the  largest  building  in 
the  State,  506  feet  long  and  52  feet  wide,  cover¬ 
ing  the  center  of  a  city  square  in  the  Second 
ward  and  combines  a  modern  market  of  70 
stalls,  with  a  convention  hall,  seating  3,500 
people.  It  furnishes  a  splendid  place  for  con¬ 
ventions,  exhibits,  etc.  The  city  operates  an 
excellent  market  in  the  Fifth  ward. 

Wheeling  has  a  dozen  hotels,  of  which  the 
McLure  at  Twelfth  and  Market  streets,  is  the 
largest  and  best  known,  the  others  like  the 
Stamm,  Brunswick,  Grand  Central  and  Antler 
are  also  first-class  and  cater  to  a  good  trade. 
A  new  up-to-date  hostelry,  12  stories  high  and 
containing  200  rooms,  is  now  being  constructed 
on  the  Windsor  site  on  Water  street  and  the 
new  hotel  will  be  known  as  the  Windsor.  The 
stranger  in  Wheeling  may  find  excellent  ac¬ 
commodations  at  reasonable  prices,  and  the 
rates  do  not  advance  when  large  crowds  come 
to  conventions  or  other  gatherings. 

There  are  three  theatres  in  Wheeling,  as 
follows : 


15 


Court  Theatre,  Board  of  Trade  building, 
Twelfth  and  Chapline  streets,  open  winter 
season. 

Victoria  Theatre,  corner  Thirteenth  and 
Market  street,  open  all  the  year. 

The  Orpheum,  at  Fourteenth  and  Market 
streets,  open  all  the  year.* 

There  are  ten  moving  picture  houses  which 
are  doing  a  good  business. 

There  are  four  club  houses,  the  Fort  Henry, 
at  Fourteenth  and  Chapline  streets;  the  Elks, 
at  No.  32  Fifteenth  street ;  the  Carroll,  at  Thir¬ 
teenth  and  Chapline  streets;  the  University,  at 
1107  Chapline  street ;  the  Columbia,  Market 
street,  below  Twentieth,  and  the  Arion,  at 
Twentieth  and  Main  streets.  The  Country 
Club  has  a  splendid  club  house  and  golf 
grounds  five  miles  east  of  the  city. 

The  leading  secret  orders  are  strong,  and  the 
Masons,  Odd  Fellows,  and  Knights  of  Pythias 
own  buildings.  The  Scottish  Rite  order  has  a 
magnificent  Cathedral  at  Fourteenth  and  Byron 
streets,  in  which  the  Masonic  Club  has  quarters. 

The  Mercantile  Club  has  fine  rooms  in  the 
Board  of  Trade  building. 


A  WHEELING  PLAYGROUND 


16 


MVheeling  s 
Principal  Suburbs 


(West  Virginia) 

WELLSBURG 

Wellsburg  is  in  Brooke  County,  16  miles  north 
of  Wheeling  on  the  Ohio  river,  the  Pennsylvania 
railroad  and  the  PanHandle  traction  line  run¬ 
ning  from  Wheeling  to  Steubenville.  It  is  the 
county  seat  of  Brooke  county. 


Population  .  5,250 

Assessed  valuation  of  property . $4,436,604.18 

Tax  rate  .  1.07% 

Number  of  public  schools .  5 

Number  of  churches .  8 

Number  of  principal  industries .  13 

Estimated  number  of  employes  in  in¬ 
dustries  .  2,000 


The  principal  lines  of  trade  are  the  manufacture 
of  glass  and  paper  and  coal  mining. 


WARWOOD 

Warwood,  a  new  suburb  which  has  grown  up 
in  the  last  decade,  is  located  three  miles  north 
of  Wheeling  on  the  Ohio  river,  the  Pennsylvania 
railroad  and  the  PanHandle  traction  line.  It 
lies  within  the  5-cent  traction  fare  limit.  The 
town  is  incorporated  and  has  a  splendid  city 
water  supply,  taken  from  wells,  paving,  sewer¬ 
age,  natural  gas  and  electricity. 


Population  .  3,000 

Assessed  valuation  of  property . $1,649,280 

Tax  rate,  per  $100 .  1.10 

Number  of  public  schools .  2 

Number  of  churches .  5 

Number  of  industries .  7 

Employees  .  300 


Principal  industries,  manufacture  of  tools,  tin  plate, 
auto  trucks,  etc. 


17 


FULTON 


Fulton  adjoins  Wheeling  on  the  east  and  is 
located  on  the  Wheeling  Terminal  railway,  and 
the  West  Virginia  Traction  and  Electric  rail¬ 
way.  Five-cent  car  fare.  The  town  is  incor¬ 
porated  and  has  all  utilities  in  the  way  of  pav¬ 
ing,  filtered  water,  gas,  sewerage  and  electric¬ 
ity. 


Population  .  1,100 

Banks  .  1 

Assessed  valuation  of  property. . $567,550 

Tax  rate,  per  $100 .  1.02% 

School  buildings  .  1 

Churches  .  1 


Industries,  large  packing  houses,  one  of  which 
is  the  largest  establishment  east  of  Chicago. 

ELM  GROVE 

Elm  Grove  is  located  five  miles  east  of  Wheel¬ 
ing  on  the  lines  of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  rail¬ 
road  and  the  West  Virginia  Traction  &  Electric 
Co.  Five-cent  car  fare  to  Wheeling.  The  town 
is  incorporated  and  has  all  utilities,  city  water 
(filtered),  natural  gas,  electricity  and  sewerage. 


Population  .  2,200 

Banks  .  2 

Assessed  valuation  of  property . $1,088,085 

Tax  rate,  per  $100 .  .96% 

Number  of  schools .  1 

Number  of  churches .  7 

Number  of  industries .  7 


Principal  industries,  coal  mining,  lumber  and  man¬ 
ufacture  of  sanitary  ware. 

BENWOOD 

Benwood  adjoins  Wheeling  immediately  on 
the  south,  and  is  located  on  two  lines  of  the 
Baltimore  &  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania  railroads, 
and  the  Wheeling  traction  line  running  from 
Wheeling  to  Moundsville.  The  main  line  of  the 
B.  &  O.  from  Washington  to  Columbus,  etc., 
passes  through  the  town.  Benwood  is  incor¬ 
porated  and  enjoys  all  public  utilities. 


18 


Population  .  5,000 

Banks  .  1 

Assessed  valuation  of  property . $4,934,710 

Tax  rate,  per  $100 .  .94Y2 

Number  of  schools .  3 

Number  of  churches .  3 

Number  of  manufacturing  plants .  3 

Estimated  number  of  employes .  5,700 


Leading  industries  are  plants  of  the  U.  S.  Steel 
Corporation  and  the  Wheeling  Steel  &  Iron  Co.,  turn¬ 
ing  out  iron  and  steel  products. 


McMECHEN 

McMechen  is  located  three  miles  south  of 
Wheeling  and  adjoins  Benwood  immediately  on 
the  south.  It  is  on  two  lines  of  the  Baltimore  & 
Ohio  and  Pennsylvania  railroads,  and  the 
Wheeling  traction  line.  Five-cent  car  fare  to 
Wheeling.  The  town  is  incorporated  and  en¬ 
joys  all  public  utilities. 


Population  .  4,000 

Banks  .  1 

Assessed  valuation  of  property . $1,298,810 

Number  of  schools .  2 

Number  of  churches .  4 

Number  of  industries .  2 


B.  &  O.  car  shops  located  here. 


GLENDALE 

Glendale  is  located  nine  miles  south  of  Wheel¬ 
ing  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  river.  It  is  a 
beautiful  residence  suburb  and  is  located  on  two 
lines  of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  railroad  and  the 
Wheeling  traction  line  running  from  Wheeling 
to  Moundsville.  The  Reynolds  Memorial  Hos¬ 
pital  is  located  here,  and  is  one  of  the  finest  in 
the  State.  It  enjoys  all  utilities  in  the  way  of 
natural  gas,  electricity,  sewerage  and  water. 


Population  . 1,200 

Schools  .  1 

Churches  .  2 

Manufacturing  plants  .  3 


Principal  products  corrugated  ware  and  coal. 


19 


MOUNDSVILLE 


Moundsville  is  located  ten  miles  south  of 
Wheeling  on  two  branches  of  the  B.  &  0.  rail¬ 
road  and  the  Wheeling  traction  line.  It  is  a 
prosperous  and  progressive  community,  and 
showed  a  growth  of  66%  the  last  decade.  It  is 
the  site  of  the  State  Penitentiary  and  a  famous 
Indian  Mound. 


Population  .  9,000 

Banks  .  5 

Assessed  valuation  of  property . $7,310,930 

Number  of  schools .  4 

Number  of  churches .  7 

Number  of  industries .  11 

Number  of  employes .  3,000 


Principal  industries,  glass,  enamel  ware,  brick  and 
coal. 


MARTINS  FERRY 

(Ohio) 

Martins  Ferry  is  situated  on  the  banks  of  the 
Ohio  river  just  opposite  the  north  end  of  Wheel¬ 
ing.  It  is  located  on  the  lines  of  the  Penn¬ 
sylvania,  Wheeling  &  Lak'  Erie  and  Wheel¬ 
ing  Terminal  railway,  and  there  are  two 
lines  of  the  Wheeling  Traction  Company  from 
Wheeling  to  Martins  Ferry.  The  city  is  sup¬ 
plied  with  pure  water  and  has  all  other  public 
utilities. 


Population  .  12,000 

Banks  .  3 

Assessed  valuation  of  property . $8,736,770 

Tax  rate,  per  $100 .  1.32 

Number  of  schools .  5 

Number  of  churches .  15 

Number  of  principal  industries .  20 

Number  of  employes .  7,000 

Monthly  pay  roll .  750,000 

Coal  mines  . 5 

Number  of  employes .  2,800 


Two  large  mills  of  the  American  Sheet  &  Tin 
Plate  Co.  are  located  in  Martins  Ferry,  and  big 
plants  of  the  Whitaker-Glessner  Co.  and  Wheeling 
Corrugating  Co.  The  new  Wheeling  Sheet  and  Tin 
Plate  Co.  is  located  just  north  of  the  city. 


20 


BRIDGEPORT 

Bridgeport  lies  just  opposite  Wheeling  on 
the  banks  of  the  Ohio  river.  The  lines  of  the 
Baltimore  &  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania  railroads 
pass  through  the  city.  Also  three  lines  of  the 
Wheeling  Traction  Company.  Five-cent  car 
fare  to  Wheeling.  All  public  utilities  includ¬ 


ing  city  water. 

Population  .  4,800 

Banks  .  3 

Assessed  valuation  of  property . $3,518,085 

Tax  rate,  per  $100 .  1.44 

Number  of  schools .  4 

Number  of  churches .  7 

Number  of  industries .  3 


There  are  2,500  miners  employed  in  and  about 
Bridgeport. 

BELLAIRE 

Bellaire  is  situated  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio 
river  just  opposite  the  south  end  of  Wheeling, 
and  is  a  thriving  industrial  community,  the 
largest  in  Belmont  county.  The  lines  of  the 
Baltimore  &  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania  railroads 
pass  through  the  city.  A  line  of  the  Wheeling 
Traction  Company  runs  from  Wheeling  to 
Bellaire,  giving  a  five-cent  car  fare. 


Population  .  14,000 

Banks  .  3 

Assessed  valuation  of  property . $11,919,490 

Tax  rate,  per  $100 .  1.30 

Number  of  schools .  10 

Number  of  churches .  11 

Number  of  principal  industries .  19 


Twelve  coal  mines  employing  3,000  men.  Principal 
industries,  iron  and  steel,  glass  and  enameled  ware, 
Carnegie  Steel  Co.  and  Imperial  Glass  Co.  being  the 
largest.  An  enormous  coal  industry  lies  back  of  the 
city. 

SHADYSIDE 

Shadyside  adjoins  Bellaire  on  the  south,  and 
is  on  the  lines  of  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  and 
the  Wheeling  Traction  Co. 


Population  . 2,000 

Banks  . 1 

Number  of  schools .  1 

Number  of  churches .  5 

Number  of  industries .  2 


Principal  industry,  coal  mining. 

21 


lal  Strength  of  the  Wheeling  District 


o 

d 

rt 

d 

•  »H 


nS 

03 

"id 

o 

o 


&h  G 
03  2 

03  Co 


ooooooooo 
ooooooooo 
©  ©  o  o  cq  ©  <o  ©^  o 
t>  ^  N  V 


CO  CM  05  O 
l>  ft  CO  53 

■q  to  h 

c\T 

CO 

«>e- 


ooooooooo 

OOOOOOOOO 
©  ©  ©  ®  ©  ©  ©  ©^  © 

©  00  CO*"  t>T  ZD  CO*1  rH  O  O 

OOi-lc-Mrt<r^OO 
^  !C  H  tH  t*  ©  rH 

tH  Cm"  rH 
(M 


^3- 


cd 

^  -c 


a 

03 

o 

in 


03 

*H 

id 

GO 

3 

£ 

o 

a 

id 


02 


12  .3 


<y  <d 
03  03 

a  x 

§  [s 

o 


c 

-M 

- 

id 

Ph 


03 

u 

id 

a 

id 


o  © 
us  co 
o  © 


o  o  o  o  o  o  o 

o  o  o  o  o  o  o 

cq  ©  ©  ©  ©  ©  ©^ 

lfl*  H  Ifl  ft”  W  N  OO 

i— I  OO  (M  <M  CM  O  CO 

rH  rH  ©_  rH  i— 

N  N  H 


O  O  O  O  O 

w  O  O  O  O  O 

Zj  o  o  o  o  o 

a  rH  t-"  o'  <cq"  I> 

tT  <M  © 

a  rH 

co" 

60- 


o  o  o  o  o  o 
o  o  o  o  o  o 
o  o  o  o  o  o 


o  o  o 
o  o  o 
O.S  °„  0_ 
os'  Lo"  ©" 

rH  LO  05 
<M  rH 


o  o  o 
o  o  o 
o  o  o 


lO  LO  LC5  (M  O  O  O 

c<q  <m  <cq  eq  id  ©  © 

CO  N  rl 


be 

o  a 

bo  3 

II 

5  ►> 

o  .tn 

«W  03 
03  03 


hS  *h 

a  ° 

a  03 

be  .2 
a  ns 

Ph  cd 
03 
03 
rp 


rH  CO  CO  CO 


03 


03 

;> 

<a 


£  £ 


cd 

> 

fS  I 
-  o 


■a 

o 

& 

03 

-a 

-a 

o 

03" 

►H 

a 

O 

£ 

a 

a 

o 

o 

1 

o 

£ 

S-. 

cd 

#Jh 

cd 

§o 

03 

m 

a 

O 

£ 

t 

"£ 

m 

GRAND  TOTAL .  29  $3,392,000  $4,013,000  $30,601,000  $30,127,000  $40,502,000 


Financial  Institutions 


WHEELING'S  BANKS  OLD  IN  EXPERIENCE  AND 
MODERN  IN  METHODS 


NATIONAL 

Established 


National  Bank  of  West  Virginia .  1817 

National  Exchange  Bank .  1899 

STATE 

Bank  of  the  Ohio  Valley .  1875 

Center  Wheeling  Savings  Bank .  1901 

City  Bank  of  Wheeling .  1886 

Commercial  Bank  .  1869 

Dollar  Savings  &  Trust  Co .  1887 

German  Bank  .  1870 

Germania  Half  Dollar  Savings  Bank .  1896 

Mutual  Savings  Bank .  1887 

Peoples  Bank  .  1861 

Quarter  Savings  Bank .  1901 

Security  Trust  Co .  1903 

South  Side  Bank .  1890 


A  new  bank.  The  Citizens  National,  has  recent¬ 
ly  been  organized  with  a  capital  of  $100,000,  and  will 
soon  open  for  business,  making  a  total  of  15  bank¬ 
ing  institutions. 


Wheeling’s  Big  Clearings 

Wheeling  ranks  sixty-fifth  in  bank  clearings 
in  the  United  States,  though  one  hundred  and 
seventh  in  population.  The  following  table  of 
exchanges  from  the  Wheeling  Clearing  House 
Association  records  are  evidence  of  our  increas¬ 
ing  prosperity.  The  record  for  the  last  nine 
years  is  as  follows : 


Exchanges  for  1912 
Exchanges  for  1911 
Exchanges  for  1910 
Exchanges  for  1909 
Exchanges  for  1908 
Exchanges  for  1907 
Exchanges  for  1906 
Exchanges  for  1905 
Exchanges  for  1904 


$105,130,551.00 

90,579,693.00 

90,318,477.53 

80,890,086.78 

72,600,000.30 

57,455,311.80 

53,229,030.04 

41,335,368.93 

36,569,029.23 


(The  above  does  not  include  Suburban  Banks.) 


23 


Building  Permits 


The  building  permits  issued  by  the  city  build¬ 
ing  inspector  reflect  the  steady  growth  of  the 
city.  The  figures  for  the  past  three  years  on 
amounts  involved  are  as  follows: 


1910  . 

1911  . 

Increase 

1912  . 

Increase 


.$  901,442.00 
959,543.00 
$  58,101.00 

1,286,640.00 
327,097.50 


The  figures  for  Greater  Wheeling  would  double 
this  statement. 


Revenue  Receipts 


The  revenue  receipts  at  the  office  of  the  dep¬ 
uty  collector  reflect  our  large  trade  in  lines  af¬ 
fected  and  convey  an  idea  of  the  great  volume 
of  our  stogie  industry  for  which  the  city  is 
justly  famous.  The  figures  below  give  in  five- 
year  periods  the  total  sales  of  stamps,  stogie 
sales  and  number  manufactured,  and  show  con¬ 
clusively  the  steady  and  substantial  growth : 


1902- 

Total  collections  . $  872,411.00 

Stogie  revenues  .  260,048.00 

According  to  these  figures,  86,663,000  stogies  were 

manufactured  in  1902. 

1907- 

Total  collections  . $  959,542.00 

Stogie  revenues  .  347,036.00 

Stogies  manufactured  during  1907 .  115,678,000 

1912- 

Total  collections  . $  1,184,367.00 

Stogie  revenues  .  411,118.00 

Stogies  manufactured  during  1912 .  137,039,000 


24 


Wheeling  s 
Industrial  Strength 

AS  SHOWN  BY  THE 
GOVERNMENT  CENSUS  of  1910 

Value  of  products, . $27,077,000 


Capital  invested, .  19,297,000 

Cost  of  Materials  Used,  ....  16,025,000 

Value  Added  by  Manufacture,  .  11,052,000 

Salaries  and  Wages, .  5,503,000 

Miscellaneous  Expenses,  .  .  .  3,166,000 

Average  of  Wage  Earners,  .  .  .  7,809 


The  average  increase  in  these  items  was  20% 
in  the  last  decade,  and  the  Real  Wheeling 
would  more  than  double  these  figures. 


OHIO  RIVER  STEAMER 


25 


Population  Statistics 

OF  CITIES  AND  TOWNS  WITHIN  A  RADIUS  OF 
25  MILES  OF  WHEELING 


The  following  cities  and  towns,  with  a  com¬ 
bined  population  of  upwards  of  200,000,  are 
within  a  radius  of  25  miles  of  Wheeling,  closely 
connected  by  trolley  and  railroad,  with  a  five- 
cent  fare  in  the  majority,  and  Wheeling  is  the 
shopping,  jobbing  and  industrial  center  of  the 
section : 


Follansbee,  Brooke  County .  2,100 

Wellsburg,  “  5,250 

Bethany,  “  750 

Beech  Bottom,  “  200 

WHEELING,  Ohio  County .  43,000 

Warwood,  “  3,000 

Fulton,  “  1,100 

Leatherwood,  “  250 

Woodsdale,  “  850 

Edgwood,  “  850 

Pleasant  Valley,  “  250 

Park  View,  “  400 

Mt.  de  Chantal,  “  400 

Greggsville,  “  400 

Elm  Grove,  “  2.200 

Patterson,  “  500 

Triadelphia,  “  400 

Valley  Grove,  “  250 

West  Liberty,  “  400 

Clinton,  “  100 

Benwood,  Marshall  County .  5,000 

McMechen,  “  4,000 

Sherrard,  “  400 

Glendale,  “  1,200 

Moundsville,  “  9,000 

Glen  Easton,  “  300 

Loudenville,  “  100 

Cameron,  “  1,800 

Majorville,  “  250 

Dallas,  “  250 

Martins  Ferry,  Belmont  County,  0 .  12,000 

Bridgeport,  “  4,800 

Bellaire,  “  14,000 

Shadyside,  “  2,000 

Wegee,  “  200 


26 


Barnesville,  Belmont  County,  0 .  4,200 

St.  Clairsville,  “  2,000 

Maynard,  “  2,000 

Barton,  “  3,000 

Neff’s,  “  1,800 

Bethesda,  “  1,200 

Belmont,  “  600 

Glencoe,  “  400 

Riverview,  “  200 

West  Wheeling,  “  300 

Brookside,  “  300 

Wheeling  Creek,  “  700 

Lansing,  “  500 

Blaine,  “  350 

Crescent,  “  200 

Fairpoint,  “  300 

Bannock,  “  250 

Colerain,  “  300 

Florence,  “  500 

Gaylord,  “  250 

Burlington,  “  250 

Powhatan,  “  500 

Steubenville,  Jefferson  County,  0 .  24,000 

Mingo,  “  4,000 

Dillonvale,  “  2,500 

Brilliant,  “  1,500 

Piney  Fork,  “  1,100 

Smithfleld,  “  1,000 

Mt.  Pleasant,  “  1,000 

Adena,  “  800 

Tiltonville,  “  500 

Rayland.  “  400 

Yorkville,  “  400 

Emerson,  “  200 

Cadiz,  Harrison  County .  3,000 

Harrisville,  “  400 

New  Athens,  “  500 

West  Alexander,  Pennsylvania .  700 

Claysville,  “  1,200 

Taylorstown,  “  500 

West  Finley,  “  150 

McCracken,  “  200 

Jacktown,  “  300 


182,600 


27 


Fifty  Facts  About  W/heelmg 


Wheeling  was  made  a  port  of  entry  by  Con¬ 
gress  in  1831. 

Wheeling’s  new  post  office  and  custom  house 
cost  $600,000. 

Wheeling’s  area  covers  3  1-5  square  miles, 
or  2050  acres. 

Wheeling  leads  all  cities  of  its  size  in  volume 
of  bank  clearings. 

Wheeling’s  new  high  school  is  one  of  the 
finest  in  the  State. 

There  are  19,000  telephone  subscribers  in 
the  Wheeling  district. 

Historic  Bethany  College  is  located  20  miles 
from  Wheeling  by  trolley. 

Ohio  county  merino  wool  took  first  prize  at 
the  Paris  Exposition  in  1900. 

Minneapolis’  biggest  millers  buy  their  flour 
sacks  in  the  Wheeling  district. 

Splendid  suburbs,  easily  accessible,  offer  fine 
opportunities  for  home-seekers. 

The  Schmulbach  office  building,  12  stories 
high,  is  the  largest  in  the  State. 

Wheeling  was  one  of  the  first  cities  in  the 
country  to  use  brick  pavements. 

Wheeling  makes  more  stogies  than  any  city 
in  the  country  except  Pittsburg. 

One  hundred  passenger  trains  run  in  and 
out  of  Wheeling  depots  every  day. 

Wheeling’s  public  library  has  25,000  volumes 
and  is  complete  and  comprehensive. 

The  new  Scottish  Rite  Cathedral  is  the  finest 
fraternal  building  in  West  Virginia. 

There  are  450  automobiles  in  Ohio  county 
and  the  number  is  increasing  rapidly. 

28 


Wheeling  manufactures  60  to  70  per  cent  of 
the  lamp  burners  of  the  United  States. 

The  Wheeling  grocers  are  organized  in  a 
strong  Association  for  mutual  welfare. 

A  Wheeling  foundry  turned  out  $2,000,000 
worth  of  castings  for  the  Panama  Canal. 

Site  of  Ft.  Henry  of  Revolutionary  fame 
marked  by  tablet  at  top  of  Main  street  hill. 

The  Ohio  Valley  Trades  and  Labor  Assembly 
is  the  leading  labor  organization  of  the  State. 

Wheeling  has  live  and  energetic  retailers  or¬ 
ganization  which  is  doing  fine  work  in  its  field. 

The  Wheeling  District  turns  out  more  enamel 
ware  than  any  other  community  in  the  country. 

McColloch’s  Leap  near  the  city  is  famed  as 
the  scene  of  a  brave  Indian  fighter’s  exploit. 

Wheeling  is  the  home  of  the  W.  Va.  State 
Fair  which  annually  draws  thousands  of  visi¬ 
tors. 

Wheeling  is  a  little  above  Mason  and  Dixon’s 
line,  but  there  is  plenty  of  Southern  hospitality 
here. 

The  Steel  Bridge  from  Wheeling  to  the  Island 
was  designed  by  Ferris,  of  Ferris-wheel  fame. 

Wheeling  has  the  largest  plant  turning  out 
a  single  brand  of  chewing  and  smoking  to¬ 
bacco. 

Wheeling  gave  more  for  San  Francisco  re¬ 
lief  than  any  city  of  its  size  in  the  United 
States. 

Wheeling  is  in  the  same  latitude  as  Phila¬ 
delphia  and  enjoys  a  healthful  and  temperate 
climate. 

U.  S.  Engineer’s  office  is  located  in  Wheeling 
on  Government  dam  work  and  employs  25  to 
40  men. 

Wheeling  has  several  fine  parks,  notably 
Wheeling  Park,  five  miles  east,  excellent  for 
outings. 


29 


The  coal  mining  industry  of  the  district  em¬ 
ploys  15,000  men  with  a  payroll  of  $1,500,000 
monthly. 

The  first  pottery  for  the  manufacture  of 
white  ware  in  West  Virginia  was  established 
here  in  1879. 

Henry  Clay  Monument  on  the  National  Road 
erected  1820  in  honor  of  his  services  to  that 
great  highway. 

Wheeling  contributed  260,000  to  a  fund  for 
the  new  City  Hospital,  raised  in  an  eleven- 
day  campaign. 

The  freight  and  passenger  revenue  of  the 
Wheeling  District  is  the  third  largest  on  the 
B.  &  O.  system. 

Wheeling  is  660  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
sea  and  country  is  rolling  with  hills,  rising  as 
high  as  1400  feet. 

One  of  the  largest  Indian  mound-  in  the 
country  is  located  in  Moundsville,  12  miles 
south  of  Wheeling. 

Big  capitalists  showed  their  confidence  last 
year  when  $7,000,000.00  was  paid  for  purchase 
of  local  traction  interests. 

Wheeling  Island,  Seventh  ward  of  the  city, 
is  one  of  the  largest  in  the  Ohio  river  and 
has  nearly  8,000  population. 

Waddington  Farm,  five  miles  east  cf  Wheel¬ 
ing  and  consisting  of  1,000  acres,  is  one  of  the 
finest  farms  in  the  country. 

Wheeling  has  furnished  one  governor,  a 
United  States  Senator,  three  attorney-generals 
and  a  State  Treasurer  to  the  State. 

The  Tri-State  Poultry  Association  gives 
annual  shows  in  Market  Auditorium,  yhich 
are  attracting  attention  in  the  poultry  world. 

Wheeling  has  the  largest  proprietary  medi¬ 
cine  concern  in  the  world,  employing  an  army 
of  people  and  turning  out  many  well  known 
remedies. 


30 


The  first  suspension  bridge  over  the  Ohio 
from  Wheeling  to  the  Island,  1010  feet  long, 
was  built  in  1849  and  was  one  of  the  wonders 
of  the  times. 

Wheeling  has  four  daily  newspapers:  Reg¬ 
ister  and  Intelligencer  (morning)  ;  News  and 
Telegraph  (evening),  which  are  metropolitan 
in  make-up  and  news  service  and  lead  all  others 
in  West  Virginia. 

The  Pan  Handle  Agricultural  Club  has  re¬ 
cently  been  formed  and  financed  at  Wheeling 
and  has  employed  agricultural  experts  to  aid 
in  agricultural  development  of  Ohio  and  other 
Pan  Handle  counties. 


31 


B.Sc.O.DEPO 


